Predicting the NFL draft this year is like making NCAA tournament picks: It’s impossible to predict all the twists.
Few teams seem to want to stay where they’re slotted. Some may be more willing to trade down because several top players have similar value, and most teams have multiple needs. Think about Eli Manning, Robert Gallery, Kellen Winslow, Sean Taylor and that warehouse of wide receivers.
The Bears? It’s about a defensive lineman and a wide receiver. Ohio State end Will Smith, Miami tackle Vince Wilfork and Wisconsin wideout Lee Evans could be coming to Chicago.
But with receiver Mike Williams out of the picture–the NFL won its appeal against admitting players who have been out of high school less than three years–and with San Diego playing opossum, the draft becomes significantly harder to diagnose.
We’ll play it straight with the initial predictions, but then we also give every team a little advice if they’re willing to roll the dice in an expected topsy-turvy first round.
1. San Diego Eli Manning, QB, Miss.
Or: The Chargers could trade with the Giants. New York would take Manning or Robert Gallery, and San Diego would get Philip Rivers and some-much needed picks.
2. Oakland Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa
Larry Fitzgerald, maybe? Arizona’s Dennis Green would have an aneurism.
3. Arizona Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh
Could opt for TE Kellen Winslow or S Sean Taylor.
4. N.Y. Giants Roy Williams, WR, Texas
Could get Gallery or Manning through a trade or, if they’re lucky, one drops.
5. Washington Sean Taylor, S, Miami
Winslow would be the other choice. Even Dan Snyder can’t botch this.
6. Detroit Kellen Winslow, TE, Miami
Also, WR Reggie Williams, or a trade down.
The Lions also need a running back.
7. Cleveland Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami (Ohio) Or Winslow, if he drops.
8. Atlanta Reggie Williams, WR, Washington DE Kenechi Udeze or CB DeAngelo Hall.
9. Jacksonville Kenechi Udeze, DE, USC
Or Williams, if he drops. QB Byron Leftwich
desperately needs targets.
10. Houston Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma Hall is a backup choice.
11. Pittsburgh Philip Rivers, QB, N.C. State
Steelers sending out feelers that they’d like to trade down. OT Shawn Andrews or RB Kevin Jones, along with a cornerback, would
be options lower in the draft.
12. N.Y. Jets Dunta Robinson, CB, S. Car.
Jets really want out of this spot to get a
cornerback or linebacker for greater value.
13. Buffalo Will Smith, DE, Ohio State
Wouldn’t make the Bears too happy, or the Bills, who really want a quarterback. They could trade up for Rivers.
14. BEARS Vince Wilfork, DT, Miami
Gallery may be out of reach. Udeze or Smith could fall to them. A trade down is possible, too, especially with some teams coveting RB Steven Jackson.
15. Tampa Bay D.J. Williams, LB, Miami
Oregon St. RB Steven Jackson would give the Bucs more bang for their … aw, forget it.
16. S. Fran. Rashaun Woods, WR, Okla. St. Woods is big, like Terrell Owens, a natural for the 49ers’ offense, but LSU’s Michael Clayton and Wilfork are possibilities.
17. Denver (from Cincinnati)
Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon State
Also, RB Kevin Jones or a wide receiver.
18. N. Orleans Jonathan Vilma, LB, Miami Saints are very flexible. D.J. Williams is
one choice. A defensive back such as Hall or Derrick Strait is another.
19. Minnesota Antwan Odom, DE, Alabama
All of the players at this point are a toss-up, so the Vikings want to trade.
20. Miami Shawn Andrews, OT, Arkansas
If the Dolphins take anything other than an offensive lineman, fans may string up Dave Wannstedt by his mustache.
21. New England (from Baltimore)
Chris Gamble, CB, Ohio State
Would give the Patriots leverage in the contract dispute with Ty Law. Coach Bill Belichick not likely to trade up to pursue Taylor.
22. Dallas Kevin Jones, RB, Virginia Tech
Cowboys could stay at home and select Texas DT Marcus Tubbs.
23. Seattle Randy Starks, DT, Maryland
Can’t lose with him or Miami G Vernon Carey.
24. Cincinnati (from Denver)Will Poole, CB, USC Bet on Gamble if he falls.
25. Green Bay Lee Evans, WR, Wisconsin
Especially if they think the Bears want him. That’s for Rex Grossman, Chicago.
26. St. Louis Jason Babin, DE, W. Michigan With Grant Wistrom gone, Odoms possible.
27. Tennessee Jake Grove, C, Virginia Tech Tight end and running back also fill needs. Ben Troupe and Greg Jones come to mind.
28. Philadelphia Michael Clayton, WR, LSU Yeah, they just traded for Owens, but name another Eagles receiver, quickly. Auburn
linebacker Karlos Dansby is a fall-back.
29. Indianapolis Derrick Strait, CB, Oklahoma Poole is more desirable, but probably won’t be there, and Dansby is a back-up.
30. Kansas City Igor Olshansky, DT, Oregon Ukrainian can intimidate with his name alone. Chiefs, as always, are looking for cornerbacks. Tough.
31. Carolina Michael Jenkins, WR, Ohio State Unless Clayton or a defensive back is available, there aren’t a lot of options.
32. New England Vernon Carey, G, Miami
Pats need someone to block for Corey
Dillon. Also, Belichick called the class of linebackers better “than I’ve seen in a couple of years.”
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Edited by Phillip Thompson (plthompson@tribune.com) and Chris Courtney (cdcourtney@tribune.com)
